Being a part-time writer can be challenging. I enjoy reading books published by full-time authors and listening to their podcasts but find I often compare my output to theirs too. Not having whole days to work on my novels, it takes me much longer to complete each stage of a book’s production. I’ve tried to compensate by shortening tasks such as outlining, editing and proofreading, but then my quality suffers.
Over the past two months, I’ve used writing sprints to great effect and managed to complete the revision of my latest book in half the time. Sprints are predominantly used for first drafting, but I have found them great for revising and blogging too.
What are Writing Sprints?
Sprints are the turbo button in your writing kit. With them in your toolbox, you have the potential to double or treble your average words per hour. That increased output, added to the momentum you will get, can really propel your book forwards.
A basic Sprint goes like this. Let’s say you’re writing a first draft. Set aside a specific amount of time, say 20 minutes, and write without stopping. That last bit is the key – do not stop for anything. Just like the sprinters in the Olympics, our writing equivalent is all about focus and using every ounce of available energy for one single purpose – getting new words on the page.
The Nitty Gritty
The key to producing quality as well as quantity is preparation. Know what you will be writing about.
- How did the previous scene end
- What is happening in this new scene
- Where should it finish
Over time, you will learn what you need for a successful and focused session. My setup includes:
- Finding a quiet environment where I won’t be interrupted
- Knowing exactly what I am writing about
- Having an alarm or phone app to signal the end of my sprint; this removes the need to keep checking the time, allowing me to focus purely on writing
I use a time sheet to record my writing activities. Looking back, I’ve noticed my output during sprints to be consistently higher than other occasions.
Sprint Varieties
Sprints are like coffee, everyone has their favourite variety. Have fun by trying different durations and combinations. They shouldn’t feel like an endurance test, but they should push your limit a little bit. Similar to exercising, the first few weeks might feel tough, but as your endurance builds up, it will become easier.
My favourite weekend combo is :
- Start at 11am
- 20 min sprint, 5 min break
- 20 min sprint, 10 min break for coffee and stretching
- 20 min sprint, 1 hour break for lunch.
- 20 min sprint, 5 min break
- 20 min sprint, finish.
Final Thoughts
When you’ve finished, total up your words and congratulate yourself for showing up and giving it your best. Remember that every day will not be the same, so don’t be disappointed if the total is three hundred lower than your previous session. Our physical and mental states vary, as do the scenes we are working on. For example, I always take longer to complete fight scenes, so my word count will be less when writing those.
Everyone has an optimum period during which they can remain focused. After that, their attention will falter, their work will suffer, and they’ll require longer breaks to recharge. If you feel your optimum duration is 15 minutes, then stick to that. Whatever works. You are in control.
Happy writing,
Harry
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